Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms

Recent studies in functional nanomaterials with advanced macro, micro, and nano-scale structures have yielded substantial improvements in human-interfaced strain sensors for motion and gesture recognition. Furthermore, fundamental advances in nanomaterial printing have been developed and leveraged t...

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Main Authors: Nathan Zavanelli, Kangkyu Kwon, Woon-Hong Yeo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10308955/
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author Nathan Zavanelli
Kangkyu Kwon
Woon-Hong Yeo
author_facet Nathan Zavanelli
Kangkyu Kwon
Woon-Hong Yeo
author_sort Nathan Zavanelli
collection DOAJ
description Recent studies in functional nanomaterials with advanced macro, micro, and nano-scale structures have yielded substantial improvements in human-interfaced strain sensors for motion and gesture recognition. Furthermore, fundamental advances in nanomaterial printing have been developed and leveraged to translate these materials and mechanical innovations into practical applications. Significant progress in machine learning for human-interfaced strain sensing has unlocked numerous opportunities to improve lives and the human experience through healthcare innovations, sports performance monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. However, several key challenges still must be overcome if strain sensors can become ubiquitous tools for human motion recognition. This review begins with a summary of the critical strain-sensing mechanisms employed today and how recent works have sought to push their boundaries. It then proceeds to cover the primary functional materials used in wearable strain sensors from a performance and printability perspective. Next is a review of recent advances in nanomaterial printing to produce the complex structures necessary for functional devices. Next, we summarize machine learning approaches for human gesture recognition and the myriad applications and use cases for human-interfaced strain sensors. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for future research in the field.
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spelling doaj-art-4ee8709c3f404916a7ed6cd1736bfc8c2025-07-02T00:14:39ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology2644-12762025-01-01635338110.1109/OJEMB.2023.333029010308955Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning AlgorithmsNathan Zavanelli0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8232-5244Kangkyu Kwon1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4648-4739Woon-Hong Yeo2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5526-3882George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USAIEN Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USAGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USARecent studies in functional nanomaterials with advanced macro, micro, and nano-scale structures have yielded substantial improvements in human-interfaced strain sensors for motion and gesture recognition. Furthermore, fundamental advances in nanomaterial printing have been developed and leveraged to translate these materials and mechanical innovations into practical applications. Significant progress in machine learning for human-interfaced strain sensing has unlocked numerous opportunities to improve lives and the human experience through healthcare innovations, sports performance monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. However, several key challenges still must be overcome if strain sensors can become ubiquitous tools for human motion recognition. This review begins with a summary of the critical strain-sensing mechanisms employed today and how recent works have sought to push their boundaries. It then proceeds to cover the primary functional materials used in wearable strain sensors from a performance and printability perspective. Next is a review of recent advances in nanomaterial printing to produce the complex structures necessary for functional devices. Next, we summarize machine learning approaches for human gesture recognition and the myriad applications and use cases for human-interfaced strain sensors. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for future research in the field.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10308955/Strain sensorprinted electronicswearablesmachine learningmotion recognition
spellingShingle Nathan Zavanelli
Kangkyu Kwon
Woon-Hong Yeo
Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology
Strain sensor
printed electronics
wearables
machine learning
motion recognition
title Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
title_full Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
title_fullStr Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
title_full_unstemmed Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
title_short Printed Strain Sensors for Motion Recognition: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Machine Learning Algorithms
title_sort printed strain sensors for motion recognition a review of materials fabrication methods and machine learning algorithms
topic Strain sensor
printed electronics
wearables
machine learning
motion recognition
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10308955/
work_keys_str_mv AT nathanzavanelli printedstrainsensorsformotionrecognitionareviewofmaterialsfabricationmethodsandmachinelearningalgorithms
AT kangkyukwon printedstrainsensorsformotionrecognitionareviewofmaterialsfabricationmethodsandmachinelearningalgorithms
AT woonhongyeo printedstrainsensorsformotionrecognitionareviewofmaterialsfabricationmethodsandmachinelearningalgorithms